Founder • Early Years Consultant • Leadership Coach
As Founder of Abbotswood Forest Nursery and Abbotswood Academy, Blue has spent over 25 years helping nursery leaders build confident teams, inspiring environments and a clear vision for the future.
Helping nursery leaders grow confident teams, nurture positive cultures and create lasting change from the inside out
Blue believes every nursery has the potential to become an extraordinary place for children, families and practitioners.
With more than 25 years’ experience in early years education, she has dedicated her career to developing inspiring environments, empowering leaders and creating cultures where both children and adults can flourish.
As the founder of Abbotswood Forest Nursery and Abbotswood Academy, Blue continues to lead within a thriving nursery every day. Her consultancy is built on lived experience, helping settings create meaningful, sustainable change that reflects their own people, values and aspirations.
I am grateful as my drive for successful and effective business management meant I never gave up, I always strived for the nursery to be better, to out shine other nurseries and crucially, for it to be the best place to work for every staff member from apprentice up to manager.
Putting the staff at the centre of everything we do has transformed our nursery, we have ridden every wave thrown at us and have come out learning, improving and enjoying what we do.
I’m very lucky to be in a position where I can choose to share my business experience, as well as commitment to the early years sector, by talking to other early years professionals and supporting childcare provider success. Now my own son has joined Abbotswood, I am starting to see a lot more about the parent perspective, giving me further in-sight into this hugely dynamic sector that is early years.
“Great leadership isn’t about having all the answers. It’s about inspiring people, nurturing confidence and creating a vision that everyone believes in.”
-Blue Simmons
Helping leaders develop a clear vision that inspires confidence and drives meaningful change.
Working alongside settings to identify opportunities, overcome challenges and support sustainable improvement.
Creating positive, purpose-driven environments where practitioners feel valued and motivated.
Helping nurseries define who they are, what they stand for and where they're going.
Embedding nature-based learning into the heart of your nursery's everyday culture.
Supporting continuous improvement through practical, reflective leadership.
Leading teams confidently through periods of growth, development and transformation.
Empowering leaders to develop their confidence, resilience and potential.
Blue continues to lead a busy nursery every day, ensuring every recommendation is grounded in real-life experience rather than theory alone.
Rather than offering quick fixes, Blue helps nurseries build strong foundations through shared vision, purposeful leadership and sustainable improvement.
Every nursery is different. Blue takes time to understand your people, your goals and your challenges before creating support that's tailored entirely to your setting.
One of the things that makes Abbotswood Academy different is that we don’t just talk about leadership—we live it every day.
Everything Blue shares has been shaped through years of leading, learning and growing within her own nursery.
That means honest conversations, practical ideas and meaningful support that helps you build on what’s already great within your setting.
Because lasting change isn’t about becoming someone else’s nursery.
It’s about becoming the very best version of your own.
Whether you’re strengthening leadership, shaping your nursery culture or planning your next chapter, Blue would love to work alongside you.
